Box construction



Patented Fa. 10, 194s .UNITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE Application December 2, 1944, Serial No. 566,333

14 Claims. (Cl. 160-48) l 'This invention relates to a box construction and particularly to the construction of a box in which some mechanism must be enclosed. One of the objects of the invention is to make a multi part box and to secure the several parts together which mechanism must be in the box no matter how the latter is made.

Another object of the invention is to provide box joining means which serve the dual purpose of joining the several parts of a multi part box together and which serves also an additional mechanical function.

' Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of the device; 7

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken at line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken at line 33 of Figure2, on an enlargedscale; and

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of a pulley bracket removed from the box or housing. This section may be considered as having been taken at line 44 of Figure 3 with the box omitted. Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

While the invention is not limited to any particular box having any particular function one suitable application of the invention is in a supporting box for use with Venetian blinds. Such boxes are mounted in or near a window and the .Venetian blinds are suspended from the box and the necessary mechanism for raising and tilting the blinds and its'several parts is mounted in the box. The invention is illustrated in connection with a box whose primary purpose is for association with a Venetian blind but it might be embodied in any other sort of a box.

In the particular form here shown the box is formed of three main members and a cover. As shown the three members are of wood although they might be of metal or any other material. Obvious possible materials are plywood, synthetic materials and metal but the invention is not limited'to a box made of any particular material and it might be a composite box in which several different materials are used.

As shown the box includes three metal parts which .are grooved for inter-engagement. There is thus a bottom member I which in the particular form shown provided with a central groove 2. The bottom member is Provided with a groove 3 on each side which produces an upstanding member. Two identical side members are shown although they might differ from each other. As shown the side members include parts s, a each of which is grooved as at 5 and ii, the groove 5 being at the top and the groove s being at the bottom and as shown the groove provides a raised member which when the parts are assembled fits into one of the grooves 3 of the bottom. The members thus assembled would not stay together without separate fastening or gluing or some other additional means. It is one of the objects of the invention to avoid the addition of such additional fastening, gluing or the like. Since the box is used in connection with a Venetian blind or some other device which requires a mechanism which can be conveniently enclosed within the box the mechanism serves to fasten the box together. As shown the fastening part includes a bracket member I which may have an integral base 8. The bracket in this case is slotted as at 9 to receive a portion of a roller or a roller supporting means. The bottom portion 8 of the bracket is perforated to permit screws or other fasteners to pass through it. A

pair of side engaging members l0, I0 is provided for each bracket and as shown particularly in Figure 3 the bracket members have downwardly depending upper edges II. These edges fit into the groove 5 and hold the side members in place. The members [0 are provided with base portions 12 which are perforated to permit passage of screws T3 or some other suitable fastening means. Although the holding members to are shown as being separate from the bracket which holds or supports the roller, they can conveniently be made integral and in that case the entire bracket including the holding parts would be formed of a single integral structure.

When the box is to be assembled the parts I and 4 are put together as shown in the figures. The bracket is put in position and the holding members In if they are separate from the bracket are also put into position engaging the parts as shown in the figures. The screws l3 are driven into place and the bracket is thus permanently located in the box and the bracket together with the holding parts In and II secures the several box pieces or members together. The operation of assembly would be the same if the members l0, l0 and H were integral with the bracket or any part of the bracket.

If desired a lid member may be added, This may be or any suitable material. -As shown a metal lid I4 is added. It is provided with downwardly depending edges I5 and is positioned on top of the box and edges I5 overlie the edges H of the holding members I0 and fit into the grooves 5. Since ordinarily a box of this sort is positioned within a window opening and in contact with the top of an opening a fastening means holding the lid or cover I4 in place is not as a rule necessary. If one were needed it could be applied by the use of added screws, fasteners, adhesive and the like but ordinarily the top will be held in place by the positioning of the box close to and overlying the building member such as a window frame or window opening and for that reason no specific fastener is provided for the cover.

The particular details of the hardware or mechanical means associated with the box and designed for association with a Venetian blind form no essential part of the invention but are illustrated diagrammatically to indicate one use for the device.

A shaft I6 is provided with one or more rollers I1 and a trunnion I8 projects from the shaft or from the roller and fits into the notch 9 of the bracket member 1. Tapes I9 may be secured to the rollers I1.

Ordinary means are provided for raising and lowering the blinds and these may include cords or cables 20. If such cords are associated with the device the bottom member of the box may be cut away or perforated as at 2 I. And a roller 22 is positioned on a suitable bearing member 23 in this opening. The cord or cable 20 passes over this roller. A second roller 23' is positioned in a supporting frame which includes side members 24 which may extend laterally as at 25. These members form a support for the bearing part 26 on which the roller 23' is mounted for rotation. Since the roller bracket or support is convenient- 1y made as a unit the two side members 24 are connected by transverse member 2'! and an opening 28 is left between them. The cord or cable 20 passes over the roller 23' and downwardly through the opening 28 as shown in Figure 2.

The floor or bottom member I is cut away as at 29 to permit the lower portions 30 of the side members 24 and the transverse members 21 to extend into the cut away portion 29. This arrangement is indicated clearly in Figure 2. No particular fastening means is provided for securing this roller bracket or support in place. It is merely put into place and when the main bracket 1 is put into place it fits over a portion of the extensions 25 of the side members '24 shown generally in Figure 2 and specifically in Figure 4 and by this means the bracket 1, 8 when it is put in place serves not merely to hold the several box parts together but additionally to position and hold in place such auxiliary hardware or mechanisms as may be necessary for the particular use to which the box is put.

In the construction illustrated herewith since the box is shown a a supporting means for a Venetian blind, his a roller bracket which is held in place by the main bracket 1, 8. If the box ineluded other mechanisms, other sorts of mechanical means may be held in place by the main bracket or its equivalent, and obviously many different sorts of mechanisms might be held in place by the bracket or its equivalent and the bracket therefore serves a multiple purpose of holding the box parts together, supporting the roller or some other part and additionally holding in place auxiliary or additional mechanisms such as the bracket in which the roller 23' is positioned.

For the purpose of simplification the rollers I! and their associated parts are omitted from Figure 1. It is to be understood that where a roller I! or comparable member is enclosed within the box at least two brackets such as the brackets I, 8 would be used to support the opposite ends of the roller. More than two might be used and the invention is not limited to any particular number of structures which combine the functions of supporting some mechanism and holding the box together.

It will be realized that, whereas, I have described and illustrated a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic, rather than as limiting me to my precise showing.

The use and operation of this invention are as follows:

In theme of this invention, some form of a box or container is formed, and it is preferably made of part which fit together. As shown, the bottom member is grooved to receive corresponding projections on the side members, and they are grooved to interfit with the bottom member and to provide means for engagement with the fastening portions of the brackets and also to receive a top. Thus in ordinary use the several box walls are put in place, fitting properly with each other, and then the hardware or mechanism which is to be put in place is put inside the box and in such manner as to hold the box parts together, It is then securely fastened to one of the box parts.

In this case the screws I3 are attached to the bottom member I and thus hold the other parts together.

In some cases, where more than one type of mechanism is to be put into the box, one mechanism will merely be fitted into an opening or a depression and will be so arranged that another mechanism overlies it, and then when the other mechanism is fastened in place, it not only secures the box parts in place, but prevents ac-' cidental displacement of the first mechanism. Thus the bracket portion 8 holds the side members 25 in place, and these members are not held in position by any specific fastening of their own.

The general method of assembling the box and fastening the parts together as described above can be carried out in connection with many different sorts of mechanisms and many different sorts of boxes, so long as the general purpose of using mechanism which must be put into a container anyway for a dual purpose is accomplished.

I claim:

1. In combination, a plurality of interfitting members adapted to be fitted together to form a. container, and a mechanism within said container, said mechanism being fixedly secured to one member of said container and interfitting with other members of said container, and thereby holding the several container members together.

2. In combination, a plurality of interfitting members adapted to be fitted together to form a. container, and a plurality of mechanisms'within said container, said mechanisms being fixedly secured to one member of said container and interfitting with other members of said container, and thereby holding the several container members together.

3. In combination in a box, a base member, a

plurality of side members, said base member and said side members having parts which fit with each other, and a mechanism positioned within said box and secured to said base member, said mechanism having parts interfitting with said side members, and thereby holding said bottom and sides together.

4. In combination in a box, a base member, a plurality of side members, said base member and said side members having parts which fit with each other, and a plurality of mechanisms positioned within said box and secured to said base member, said mechanisms having parts interfitting with said side members and thereby hold-' ing said bottom and sides together.

5. In combination in a box, a base member provided with a plurality of openings, a plurality of side members, said base member and said side members having parts which fit with each other, and a plurality of mechanisms positioned within said box and secured to said base member, said mechanisms having parts interfitting with said side members, and thereby holding said bottom and sides together.

6. In combination in a box, a base member, a plurality of side members, said base member and said side members having parts which fit with each other, and a mechanism positioned within said box and secured to said base member, said mechanism having parts interfitting with said side members, and thereby holding said bottom and sides together, and a cover member positioned on said side members and interfitting therewith.

'7. In combination in a box, a base member, a plurality of side members, said base member and said side members having parts which fit with each other, and a plurality of mechanisms positioned within said box and secured to said base member, said mechanisms having parts interfitting with said side members, and thereby holding said bottom and sides together, and a cover member positioned on said side members and interfitting therewith.

8. In combination in a box, a base member provided with a plurality of openings, a plurality of side members, said base member and said side members having parts which fit with each .other, and a plurality of mechanisms positioned within said box and secured to said base member, said mechanisms having parts interfitting with said side members, and thereby holding said bottom and sides together, and a cover member positioned on said side members and interfitting therewith.

9. In combination in a box, a member defining a bottom, a pair of side members, said bottom and side members having parts which fit with each other, and a plurality of mechanical elements secured to said bottom, some of said mechanical elements being provided with members which interfit with said sides and secure the sides and bottom together.

10. In combination in a, box, a member defining a bottom, a pair of side members, said bottom and side members interfitting with each other, a plurality of mechanical elements secured to said bottom, one of said mechanical elements being positioned over another of said mechanical elements, some of said mechanical elements being provided with members which interfit with said sides and secure the sides and bottom together.

11. In combination in a box, a member defining a bottom, a plurality of openings in said bottom, a depression formed in said bottom, a pair of side members, said bottom and side members interfitting with each other, a plurality of mechanical elements secured to said bottom, adjacent said openings and having portions seated in said depression, one of said mechanical elements positioned in one of said openings in said bottom, some of said mechanical elements bein provided with members which interfit with said sides and secure the sides and bottom together.

12. In combination in a box, a member defining a bottom, a plurality of openings in said bottom, a pair of side members, said bottom and side members interfitting with each other, a plurality of mechanical elements secured to said bottom, adjacent said openings, one of said mechanical elements positioned in one of said openings in said bottom and being held in position by another of said mechanical elements, some of said mechanical elements being provided with members which interfit with said sides and secure the sides and bottom together.

13. In combination in a box, a member defining a bottom, a plurality of openings in said bottom, a depression formed in said bottom, a pair of side members, said bottom and side members interfitting with each other, a plurality of mechanical elements secured to said bottom, adjacent said openings and having portions seated in said depression, one of said mechanical elements positioned in one of said openings in said bottom and being held in position by another of said mechanical elements, some of said mechanical elements being provided with members which interfit with said sides and secure the sides and bottom together.

14. In combination in a box, a base member, a plurality of side members, said base member and said side members interfitting with each 5 other, and a, mechanism positioned within said box and secured to said base member, said mechanism having parts interfitting with said side members, and thereby holding said bottom and sides together.

H. J. MAQKIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

